Real vs. Replica, Classic Motorsports Magazine Sept issue - Page 2

JWilly · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 08:18 PM

Don't know much about the 428 FE. Is it possible that the 335 hp mentioned for the 428 that was tested is rwhp? Just curious.

Jim Maxwell · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 09:11 PM

Well, I must admit I am a tad bit embarassed to have lost out to the Superformance in this comparision. Now for "the Rest of the Story"......
This Superformance is owned by a friend of mine. We got together at an all-Ford drag strip event a few years ago and he casually challenged me to a drag race. I had the 289 with the street Michelin XWX's on it, hardly good traction.
Well, the fact is that I romped his ass big time. You should have heard the excuses, which changed every few minutes. "missed a shift", "tires were cold", "wind shear"(hot air maybe!), and then, he really got hot when I told him that my Weber equipped "289" was really a 347 stroker. "Well, that's why I lost!"

OK.

It was all in good fun and I think he did miss a shift.

However, he was quite perturbed that he had lost to a 289, so he went home, yanked out the engine and proceeded to build an engine that would "beat you next time!".

Well, we haven't met at the drag strip since, but he beat me in this comparison and I wasn't even there! I had to work, so my friend and fellow Cobra owner, Tom Cotter, drove up and picked up CSX 3288 and took it home for the comparison. That's him in all the photos with my car. It was very nice of him to arrange the comparison and go to the trouble of spending a day getting my car and handling all the details.

Factory Five was the first consideration and if we had done the comparison at VIR as first planned, that is probably is what would have been used. But that didn't work out so it was going to be at Road Atlanta before the Walter Mitty races, but that didn't work either, then Daytona,(or the other way around), so we ended up in Davidson, NC and Mike's Superformance is a wonderful car and was readily available and he was lying in wait for me all these years, the rascal!

So, there you have it. By the way, shortly after this photo shoot, I drove the car to a great auto event in Roanoke Va where George Barris was the honored guest. Friday night was a street cruise modeled after Woodward Ave in Detroit, and on Saturday they closed off the center of Downtown Roanoke and had a wonderful display of cars and thousands of spectators.

I drove up to see George Barris, who painted my car when it was new, according to the Shelby Registry and the early owners. I wasn't sure how I would get to meet him but I thought I'd give it a try. It was only a 2 hr drive and the car ran great.
As I pulled in to the registration area on Main St. I heard a voice say, "Jim Maxwell, what are you doing here?" It was a good friend of mine whose daughter was best friends with my daughter as kids, but they had moved away to Roanoke. She offered to sell me a ticket to see George Barris at the end of the day, so I bought one. Then I asked her if there was any way I could get a personal "audience" with George. Well, it turns out the entire event was organized by her brother, a major car collector, and her job was to drive Mr. Barris around all day. Amazing!
She had George Barris at my car almost before I had finished parking it. He said he remembered the car and he admired the pearl white paint and began to describe how he did it but then got interrupted. I got him to sign the glovebox on the inside, he signed the Shelby Registry section that mentions him painting the car and then he signed a document saying that Barris Kustom painted the car in early 1967. He told some great stories and was as gracious as he could be.

As you will read in the article, I have great admiration for replica Cobras. Some of my quotes may not be popular with the owners of originals, but I just said what I think. I have to say that my 428 powered Cobra is not nearly as powerful as some of the original 427 cars that have had their motors rebuilt to modern standards, and even an original real 427 engined car should outrun me by a little.

I was glad that Mike won the comparison. He has a wonderful car, and it seems he didn't miss any shifts this time!

Jamo · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 03:45 AM

Jim

As usual...quiet class from an original owner.

mrmustang · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamo

Jim

As usual...quiet class from an original owner.

Jamo,

I was thinking the same thing, Jim really is a class act who's example we should all follow whenever possible.

Sincerely,

Bill S.

RACERAL · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 08:59 AM

Ditto Bill and Jamo!. And just to think.. I got to drive that car at 80 mph for a solid hour. The wife is still trying to find her contacts.

Jim Maxwell · #6 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 03:56 PM

Al, You never knew it, but you almost ended up on the cover. I was going to suggest to Tim Suddard that he use your Factory Five when the plan was to meet at VIR. Unfortunately, that never happened due to scheduling conflicts. Of course, I wouldn't have won that comparison either!

RACERAL · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 08:14 AM

WOW... Had that have happened.. all would be well in the world...Yes.. you would have won that battle... I have a girly motor!
Hey, there is always another issue... Let's meet at Piedmont one nite.

cobred · #8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 04:40 PM

Jim, is that the same Tom Cotter that wrote the Cobra in the barn and the hemi in the barn books?

1985 CCX · #9 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 04:45 PM

Jamo x 2
--------------
Jim

As usual...quiet class from an original owner.

Jeff

RACERAL · #10 (**permalink**) 07-18-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Maxwell

Al, You never knew it, but you almost ended up on the cover. I was going to suggest to Tim Suddard that he use your Factory Five when the plan was to meet at VIR. Unfortunately, that never happened due to scheduling conflicts. Of course, I wouldn't have won that comparison either!

The more I read, the more I liked your like your first idea Jim...

Jim Maxwell · #11 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 05:18 PM

Cobred, Yes, that Tom Cotter. Tom and I restored the "Cobra in the Barn" Cobra that inspired the book for him, CSX 2149. We did most of the work on the car ourselves and spent 3 years doing it. Tom has another book coming out, "Motorcycle in the Barn" (I don't which brand will be the title ride) and a book on Dean Jeffries, the famous car painter and customizer (the Monkee Mobile is probably his best known creation, although the Manta Ray gets my vote for his coolest car.)

1ntCobra · #12 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 07:54 PM

I stopped by a book store and found the July issue of the magazine for sale. And you say that you have the September issue.

mrmustang · #13 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ntCobra

I stopped by a book store and found the July issue of the magazine for sale. And you say that you have the September issue.

Remember where you are, not quite on the edge of the civilized world

Bill S.

Got the Bug · #14 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 09:50 AM

1ntCobra - The Borders that I went to also had the July issue. If you wait, you can probably get a trial copy of the September issue (or wait for it to arrive at a bookstore).

Maricopa · #15 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 10:38 AM

Went to Borders and B. Dalton here in Phx and was only able to find the July edition although both stores had copies of the August 'Grassroots'.

Got the Bug · #16 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 11:15 AM

I called Classic Motorsports to subscribe and they said that my first issue would be the November issue. I asked them to send me a copy of the September issue and they said they would take care of it. Guessing that if you call for a trial now, you'll get the September issue.

Excaliber · #17 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 08:32 PM

Amy, on 'Endorsement' I'm talking strictly about an Superformance, which I ASSUME is what was tested for the magazine. What Shelby builds in Vegas or wherever is a 'genuine' Shelby product, not just an endorsed product.

Now just what IS Shelby building in Vegas? I understood that to be a car from the PARENT company of SPF, "High Tech" built to Shelby's specs, finished in various degrees by him or his affiliated companies. In other words I don't THINK Shelby deals directly with Superformance itself other than from an endorsement/marketing approach. I would not consider a "High Tech" built Cobra to be the same as an "SPF" Cobra, but at some point the lines (as in assembly) could get blurred?

I have seen you make reference to SPF, in other posts at various points in time, in such a way as to 'link' Shelby closer to SPF than is actually the case. It's possible I'm mistaken, but it would be a good idea from YOUR office to clairify the difference between High Tech as a supplier and SPF as a supplier. It's subtle, but an important distinction. I for one would hate to think Shelby is simply building an SPF with a Shelby name. Pretty sure that is NOT the case!

There is a substantial difference in the 'specs' for an SPF vs a Shelby, for instance.

Anthony · #18 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

I would not consider a "High Tech" built Cobra to be the same as an "SPF" Cobra, but at some point the lines (as in assembly) could get blurred?

I believe the two cars are structurally very different, different frames, suspensions, diff's, etc., and unless the new CSX4000's will share many features with the SPF brand cobra, I don;t think there will be much confusion from a structural standpoint.

I think the only cobra's that SAI completely builds now are the glass CSX7000's and csx8000's, i.e. building the frame, body. Obviously, all the aluminum cars go though vegas as well.

Excaliber · #19 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 08:50 PM

Good points Anthony. There are several suppliers for the Shelby product, and of course tons of 'endorsed products', two different worlds. Kirkham and others supply the alloy, all though perhaps it is basically ONLY Kirkham at this time. Subject to change, point is, it's NOT a Kirkham when it leaves Shelby. HST in Mexico still supplying glass as well as High Tech? Tough to keep up with the changes, what matters is the final product.

Jamo · #20 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 10:44 PM

You know what pisses me off?

Well, I'm gonna tell you what pisses me off. We have a nice thread about a magazine article comparing an original with a modern replica, with a nice sidenote about one of our members putting up his original for the comparo and then posting a damn nice post which should be a model for everyone here about how the real key to this hobby is the enjoyment of all the cars...

...and within a few pages it starts falling back into the same old BS about what is real, etc.

Warning: Stop pissing me off.